2011 Chrysler 200 Convertible

Chryslers convertible becomes something people might actually want to own, not just rent.

In its efforts to revamp an entire corporate product portfolio, there are products that Chrysler would like customers to remember fondly as they contemplate their successors—think Jeep Grand Cherokee, Chrysler 300, Dodge Charger—and others that it’d like everyone to forget. The mid-size Sebring sedan and convertible clearly fall into the latter category; not only do they get a thorough makeover for 2011, but they’ve been rechristened Chrysler 200 to put an extra measure of distance between them and their unloved predecessors. Last month, we drove the 2011 200 sedan and discovered that, indeed, it looks and drives much better than the dowdy Sebring sedan. Now Chrysler has released its first official images of and information on the 200 convertible as it attempts to turn its perennial rental car into something people actually want to own.

Blessedly Unrecognizable

Even though the 200 is merely a mid-cycle update of the Sebring, most folks will probably think it’s all-new. Whereas its ungainly predecessor was a disjointed contrivance of the Art Deco–inspired Chrysler Airflite concept car from 2003, the 200 is harmonious and in no way retrospective. The changes to the new convertible mirror those applied to the sedan; the convertible remains the longer of the two (an extension of about three inches accommodates its folding roof) but now the extended body has been made to look sleeker and more attractive.

Specific changes start with a new beak, featuring pointy headlamps and a deeper grille to visually lower the nose, while LED daytime running lamps present a light signature reminiscent of the Audi A3’s. The protective molding has been removed from the doors’ exteriors, cleaning up the profile view, with the trade-off of being more prone to parking-lot door dings. The 200 convertible’s tall decklid seems far less haunch-like than it did on the Sebring convertible, thanks to clever visual tricks that make it look wider, including a diffuser-esque lower bumper insert and a wide, chrome trim piece that spans the gap between the skinny new LED taillamps. As with the Sebring, the 200 will give customers the option to upgrade from the standard cloth softtop to a three-piece folding hardtop.

Same Space, Newfound Style

The four-seat interior has gone through a similar transformation, adopting the 200 sedan’s slick new dashboard with more-appealing gauges, as well as a multifunction steering wheel. The inboard air vents, analog clock, and central touch screen are now gathered within a chrome-rimmed bezel that echoes the new grille. Tucked below that are three climate-control dials and a redesigned center console. Notably, all components are in more or less the same place as before, yet appear far more upscale and sensible. And happily, there is no fake wood or tortoise-shell trim anywhere to be found.

Better on the Boulevard?

Under the hood, the 200 convertible will feature the same choice of engines as the sedan: a 2.4-liter four-cylinder as the base mill and the prolific 3.6-liter Pentastar V-6 as an upgrade; in the convertible, all come mated to a six-speed automatic (base 200 sedans feature a four-speed auto). As with most of Chrysler’s reworked 2011 models, steering and suspension improvements have been made to the 200 convertible, hopefully with the same transformative effect.

Full specifications, feature availability, and pricing have yet to be released, but Chrysler did state that the 200 convertible will initially come in two trim levels, Touring and Limited, with a sportier “S” model coming later. The droptop 200 should be in dealerships by spring. Check back for a full report on the convertible, including driving impressions of the non-S models, in coming weeks.